Philip Holt on Leading and Living Lean, With Simplicity

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

My guest for Episode #460 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast is Philip Holt.

He is currently Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence at GKN Aerospace, the world's leading multi-technology Tier 1 Aerospace supplier, and has over 30 years of business experience in leadership roles spanning the customer value chain, in industry-leading Companies also including Philips, Gillette, and Travelport.

He is the author of three Lean Leadership books: 

• Leading with Lean: An Experience-based guide to Leading a Lean Transformation
• The Simplicity of Lean: Defeating Complexity; Delivering Excellence
• Leading Lean by Living Lean: Changing how you Lead, not who you are

You can learn more at Philip's website.

Today, we discuss topics and questions including:

• Your “Lean origin story?”
• “Thought I knew what Lean was”
• How did visiting Japan help?
• Kaikaku — breakthrough improvement vs. continuous improvement
• Systemic view of Lean / TPS – can't grab just pieces
• True North?? How to define that?
• What are some of the ways in which people overcomplicate Lean?
• Overcomplicating problem solving? Six Sigma… A3?
• Start at the most simple form of problem solving 
• How do you describe Lean simply?
• How do you define “transformation”? When it's fully aligned with the strategy of the company…
• What “transformational results” would you expect to see?
• Zero Accidents goal – the Heinrich Triangle
• Unlearning the old way so we can lead in a Lean way?
• The personal benefits of Lean at work and life??
• What is a “life in balance”?? What does that mean to you?
• Using lean tools at home?
• Push vs. pull for information??

The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.

This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network.